Selling on Bol.com: Costs

Want to start selling on bol.com but don't have a clear picture of the costs? You're not alone. Many entrepreneurs underestimate the total costs involved in selling on bol.com. In this comprehensive article, we'll give you a complete overview of all bol.com selling costs - from commission and shipping costs to LVB rates, advertising budget, and hidden costs. This way, you can calculate a realistic profit margin before putting your first product online.

What costs are involved in selling on bol.com?

If you're going to sell on bol.com, you'll have to deal with various types of costs. It's essential to know all these cost items to make a realistic estimate of your profitability. Below, you'll find an overview of all the cost items you'll encounter as a bol.com seller:

Cost item	Type	Indication
Fixed commission	Per sale	€0,20 – €2,48 per item
Variable commission	Per sale	4.1% – 20.7% of sales price
Shipping costs (own shipping)	Per shipment	€3,50 – €8,00+ depending on format
LVB fulfillment	Per item	€2,19 – €7,50+ depending on format
LVB storage	Per m³ per month	€16,00 – €40,00
Sponsored Products	Per click (CPC)	€0,10 – €1,50+
Return costs	Per return	Free for customer, costs for seller
Subscription costs	Monthly	€0 (free sales account)

Let's take a closer look at each cost item, so you know exactly what to expect.

Commission structure: fixed and variable bol.com selling costs

The largest cost item when selling on bol.com is the commission. Bol.com uses a commission structure that consists of two parts: a fixed commission per sold item and a variable commission as a percentage of the sales price.

Fixed commission per item

The fixed commission depends on the sales price of your product:

• Products under €10: €0,20 ex. VAT per item
• Products €10 – €20: €0,40 ex. VAT per item
• Products over €20: €0,85 ex. VAT per item
• Exception (computers, TVs, white goods, large furniture): €2,48 ex. VAT per item
• Media surcharge (books, games, music, films): extra €1,00 ex. VAT per item

Bol.com has introduced lower fixed commissions for cheaper products to make selling items with a low sales price more attractive.

Variable commission per category

The variable commission varies per product category. For most categories, a standard percentage of 12.4% ex. VAT applies, but there are significant deviations. Below is an overview of the main categories:

Product category	Variable commission (ex. VAT)
Standard (most categories)	12,4%
Power tools	4,1%
Computers & tablets	5,0%
Pet food	6,0%
White goods & TVs	7,0%
Camping gear	10,8%
Fashion & sports (above €50)	13,0%
Bedding	14,1%
Beauty & care	15,0%
Jewelry	20,7%

It's essential to know the commission for your product category before you start selling. With the Boloo profit calculator, you can directly calculate how much commission you pay and what's left over.

Shipping costs: a crucial factor in your bol.com selling costs

Besides commission, shipping costs form a significant part of your total costs. As a bol.com seller, you have two options for shipping your products: handling logistics yourself or using Logistiek via bol.com (LvB).

Handling logistics yourself

When handling logistics yourself, you arrange the shipping. The costs depend on your chosen carrier and the size of your package. Average rates with popular carriers for standard packages range from €3,50 to €8,00 per shipment. Factors that influence the price include:

• Weight and dimensions of the package
• Chosen carrier (PostNL, DHL, DPD, etc.)
• Delivery options (standard, evening delivery, Sunday delivery)
• Volume discounts for larger quantities

Want to get a better grip on your shipping costs? Use the LvB Box Size Checker from Boloo to determine the optimal packaging size.

Logistiek via bol.com (LvB)

With LvB, you outsource the entire logistics to bol.com. This comes with extra costs, but also offers benefits like the bol.com delivery logo and faster delivery times. The LvB costs consist of:

• Fulfillment costs: per item, depending on size and weight (€2,19 for small items to €7,50+ for large)
• Storage costs: per cubic meter per month (€16 regular, up to €40 in peak periods)
• Label costs: €0,19 per item if bol.com needs to label your products
• Disposal costs: for unsellable stock

LvB can be more cost-effective if you sell a lot and the increased visibility leads to more sales. Always calculate whether LvB is profitable for your specific products.

Advertising costs on bol.com

More and more sellers are investing in Sponsored Products on bol.com to get their products higher in the search results. This is an optional cost, but for many sellers, it's now necessary to stay competitive.

How do Sponsored Products work?

Bol.com uses a CPC model (Cost Per Click): you only pay when a customer clicks on your ad. The cost per click varies greatly, depending on the competition in your category:

• Low competition: €0,10 – €0,30 per click
• Average competition: €0,30 – €0,75 per click
• High competition: €0,75 – €1,50+ per click

Your daily budget and maximum CPC bid determine how much you spend. A common mistake is advertising without monitoring your ACOS (Advertising Cost of Sales). Use the Boloo Sales Dashboard to track your ad performance and keep your costs under control.

Controlling Advertising Costs

To optimize your advertising costs, there are several strategies you can apply:

• Start with a low daily budget and gradually scale up
• Focus on products with the highest profit margin
• Monitor your ACOS weekly and pause unprofitable campaigns
• Use keyword research to target the right search terms
• Optimize your product listings for a higher conversion rate

Return Costs: The Hidden Expense

Returns are an inevitable part of e-commerce, and they can significantly impact your profit margin. On bol.com, customers have the right to return products within 30 days, and the return costs are often borne by the seller.

What Are the Costs Associated with Returns?

• Return Shipping Costs: the costs of returning the package
• Commission: is credited after processing the return (you don't pay commission on returned products)
• Product Damage: returned products are sometimes no longer sellable as new
• Processing Costs: time and labor for checking and rebooking returns

The return rate varies greatly per category. In fashion and clothing, the return rate can be as high as 30-40%, while in electronics it's around 5-10%. Take this into account when calculating your total bol.com sales costs.

Reducing Returns

You can limit the number of returns by:

• Writing clear and honest product descriptions
• Using high-quality product photos
• Adding correct size charts (for fashion)
• Including a FAQ section in your listing
• Using the Boloo Listing Generator AI for optimized product content

Calculating Examples: What's Your Take-Home Pay?

Let's calculate the total costs using four practical examples, so you get a realistic picture of your net earnings.

Example 1: Phone Case (€9.95)

• Selling Price: €9.95 (incl. VAT)
• VAT (21%): €1.73
• Fixed Commission: €0.20
• Variable Commission (12.4%): €1.23
• Shipping Costs (your own): €3.50
• Net Earnings: €3.29 (purchase costs not included yet)

Example 2: Kitchen Scale (€29.95)

• Selling Price: €29.95 (incl. VAT)
• VAT (21%): €5.20
• Fixed Commission: €0.85
• Variable Commission (12.4%): €3.71
• Shipping Costs (your own): €4.50
• Net Earnings: €15.69

Example 3: Wireless Headphones (€79.00)

• Selling Price: €79.00 (incl. VAT)
• VAT (21%): €13.72
• Fixed Commission: €0.85
• Variable Commission (12.4%): €9.80
• Shipping Costs (LvB): €3.89
• Net Earnings: €50.74

Example 4: Washing Machine (€499.00)

• Selling price: €499,00 (incl. VAT)
• VAT (21%): €86,61
• Fixed commission (white goods): €2,48
• Variable commission (7%): €34,93
• Shipping costs (large format): €15,00
• Net profit: €359,98

As you can see, the amount you're left with varies greatly per product and category. Use the Boloo profit calculator to calculate your own products and get an accurate estimate.

Hidden costs that new sellers often overlook

Besides the direct costs charged by bol.com, there are several "hidden" costs you need to consider:

Packaging materials

Boxes, filling material, tape, and labels can cost between €0.50 and €2.00 per shipment. With large volumes, this can add up quickly.

Product photography

Professional product photos are essential for good conversion rates. Expect to pay between €15 and €50 per product for professional photos, or invest in your own photo setup.

Accounting and invoicing

As an entrepreneur, you need to file VAT returns and keep accurate accounting records. The automatic invoicing from Boloo can save you a lot of time and money.

EAN codes

For private label products, you need EAN codes. A package of 10 EAN codes costs around €25 to €50.

Samples and product testing

Before you start selling a product, you want to order samples to check the quality. Expect to pay between €50 and €200 per product line for samples and potential certifications.

Calculating and optimizing costs with tools

Manually calculating all your costs is time-consuming and prone to errors. Fortunately, there are tools that can help you make your bol.com sales costs transparent and optimize them:

• Profit calculator: calculate your net profit per product, including commission, VAT, and shipping costs
• Product Tracker: track the sales performance of your products and identify your most profitable items
• Sales Dashboard: get a complete overview of your revenue, costs, and profit in one dashboard
• Ranking Checker: monitor your position in the search results to determine if advertising costs are needed
• Product Database: find products with low commission percentages and high margins

By continuously monitoring and optimizing your costs, you can significantly improve your profit margin. Many successful sellers use tools like Boloo to track their costs and revenue in real-time.

Tips to reduce your bol.com sales costs

Want to keep more of your sales? Here are proven strategies to reduce your costs:

1. Choose products with low commission percentages

Focus on categories with lower variable commissions. Electric tools (4.1%) and computers (5%) are examples of categories with low commissions. Use the Boloo Product Database to find products in favorable categories.

2. Optimize your packaging

A smaller package means lower shipping costs. Invest in custom-made packaging that protects your product well but isn't unnecessarily large.

3. Negotiate shipping rates

With larger volumes, you can often get discounts from carriers. From as few as 50 shipments per month, you can negotiate better rates.

4. Avoid returns

As discussed earlier, returns are a costly expense. Invest in good product descriptions and photos to lower the return rate.

5. Use FBB strategically

FBB isn't profitable for every product. Calculate per product whether the extra costs outweigh the higher visibility and conversion.

6. Monitor your ACoS

Keep a close eye on your advertising costs. An ACoS above 15-20% is not profitable for most products. Pause campaigns that aren't performing.

7. Bundle products

By bundling products, you pay a fixed commission once instead of multiple times. Plus, you can charge a higher selling price with better margins.

8. Invest in product research

The best way to control costs is by choosing products with high margins. With keyword research and product analysis, you'll find the most promising niches.

Comparing costs: bol.com vs. your own webshop

Many sellers wonder if selling through bol.com is more advantageous than having their own webshop. Below is a comparison of the main cost factors:

Cost factor	Bol.com	Your own webshop
Monthly costs	€0	€30 – €200+
Commission per sale	4.1% – 20.7% + fixed amount	1.5% – 3% (payment provider)
Marketing costs	Optional (Sponsored Products)	Necessary (SEO, SEA, social)
Reach	13+ million visitors/month	You have to build it yourself
Customer trust	High (well-known brand)	You have to build it
Control	Limited (bol.com rules)	Full

The conclusion? Bol.com has higher commissions, but offers direct access to millions of customers without you having to incur marketing costs. For beginners, bol.com is often the most cost-effective option to start with.

Frequently asked questions about selling costs on bol.com

Is it free to create a sales account on bol.com?

Yes, creating a sales account on bol.com is completely free. There are no monthly subscription costs. You only pay commission when you actually sell a product.

How much commission do I pay to bol.com?

The commission consists of a fixed amount (€0.20 – €2.48 per item) plus a variable percentage (4.1% – 20.7%, depending on the product category). For most categories, a variable rate of 12.4% ex. VAT applies. Also, read our article about commissions on bol.com for more details.

Do I pay commission on returned products?

No. If a customer returns a product, the previously charged commission is credited as soon as the return is processed. You only pay commission on actually sold products.

What are the costs of Logistics via bol.com (FBB)?

FBB costs include fulfillment costs (€2.19 – €7.50+ per item), storage costs (€16 – €40 per m³ per month), and any additional services like labeling (€0.19 per item). The exact costs depend on the dimensions and weight of your products.

Can I lower my costs by shipping in bulk?

Yes, with larger volumes, you can negotiate better rates with carriers. Additionally, with LVB, you can take advantage of economies of scale and lower fulfillment costs per item at higher volumes.

How much do I need to invest to start selling on bol.com?

Getting started is free, but expect an initial investment of €500 – €2,000 for your first product stock, packaging materials, product photography, and potential samples. With the Boloo Product Database, you can find products that fit your budget.

Are there seasonal cost differences?

Yes, especially the LVB storage costs increase during peak periods (November-December). Ad costs may also be higher due to more competition during holidays. Plan your stock and budget accordingly.

How can I calculate my total costs?

Use the Boloo profit calculator to make an accurate calculation of all costs per product, including commission, VAT, shipping costs, and your purchase price. This way, you know exactly what you'll keep per sale.